Geoscience and a Smarter EconomyA new report detailing how geoscience can be oriented toward a smart economy has just been published by GSI, GSNI and the Royal Irish Academy. It describes how the geoscience sector can contribute to economic recovery and it provides a clear vision of the sector in 2020. The report is entitled “Geoscience - Towards a Smarter Economy”. It can be downloaded here.

BackgroundIn 2008 a report entitled "Geoscience - Gaining Ground" was published outlining the contribution made by geoscience to the Irish economy and society in terms of employment, research, spatial development etc. The report identified that core geoscience activities were estimated at €1.4 billion and non-core activities amount to €1.9 billion. Total direct value was estimated at 2.24% of GNP in 2006, but because of the relatively low import content, the significance of this activity is greater than the figure itself suggests: the geoscience contribution comes to 3% GNP when indirect value is added.

The report concluded that if Ireland was serious about moving up the value chain in alignment with its knowledge-based economy aspirations, it would have to lay down stronger foundations in the geoscience sector, particularly in areas of research and public service.

On foot of the report, the Royal Irish Academy, Geological Survey of Northern Ireland and Geological Survey of Ireland commenced work on an assessment of how geoscience could be oriented toward a smart economy. This report has been completed and published under the title “Geoscience - Towards a Smarter Economy”. This describes how the geoscience sector can contribute to economic recovery and describes a vision of the sector in 2020. Its preparation has taken place in the context of a consultative process on both sides of the Border in the last two years. Universities and the private sector are both in agreement with the contents of the report. Click here for further details about the process involved.